Needed lectotypifications in Panicum (Poaceae) and a few observations of another era

2015·4.5 MB·English

by  R J Leblond

LeBlond, RJ. 2015. Needed lectotypifications in Pan/cum (Poaceae) and a few observations of another era. Phytoneuron
2015-34: 1-10. Published 27 May 2015. ISSN 2153 733X
NEEDED LECTOTYPIFICATIONS IN PANICUM (POACEAE)
AND A FEW OBSERVATIONS OF ANOTHER ERA
Richard LeBlond
J.
University of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
ABSTRACT
NCU,
During an examination of Panicum sensu lato at herbarium was determined that 9
it
published Panicum names were in need of lectotypification: Panicum arenicola Ashe, P.
commelinifolium Ashe, filiculme Ashe, filiramum Ashe, georgianum Ashe, microphyllum
P. P. P. P.
Ashe, nemopanthum Ashe, onslowense Ashe, and subvillosum Ashe. For the majority, the
P. P. P.
original type is missing, but types were never designated for P. filiculme and P. microphyllum. The
needed lectotypifications are designated here.
Nine Panicum names needing lectotypification (Table were found during a 2011-2014
1)
examination of the Panicum sensu lato collection at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
(NCU). Lectotypification is the designation of a specimen as the substitute for a holotype by a later
when
worker the nomenclatorial author either failed to designate a valid specimen as holotype or
when when
the designated holotype missing. Lectotypification also required a previously
is is
designated lectotype missing. All 9 names were originally published between 1898 and 1901 by
is
W.W. Ashe and were treated by Hitchcock and Chase (1910). That 1910 treatment remains the
authority for typification of most North American Panicum names from that era.
I il l. I in. : ...... 1 1 mi. 1 1. . . 1 1 1 1 I. . i i' |.ih. in i,
reason lor lectotypification
Panicum arenicola original lectotype missing; subsequent invalid lectotypification
Panicum holotype missing
hum
hinl
.
Panicum filiculme type never designated; subsequent invalid lectotypification
Panicum filiramum holotype missing
Panicum georgianum holotype missing; subsequent invalid lectotypification
Panicum microphyllum type never designated; subsequent invalid citing of specimen as isolectotype
Panicum nemopanthum -i' .1. _ ii.-.l 'M i' ini •! -i.i in ii.
i- i i i . I i- i
l mm. urn i, 1 . i, . h i 1' |- l.ll Hi J 'll- |'l' ' lll-l I-'- I I' Ml n
Panicum subvillosum holotype missing; subsequent invalid citing of another specimen as holotype
There a concentration of Panicum nomenclatural literature from the work of George Vasey
is
&
(1889) to the treatment by A.S. Hitchcock and Agnes Chase in 1910. The Hitchcock Chase volume
has often been cited for remarkably comprehensive and coherent treatment of the massive
its
Panicum complex. But it is also remarkable for its use of the type concept, which had only been
codified three years before (Nomenclatural Commission 1907). Hitchcock and Chase attempted to
locate and verify a type specimen for every mime, including synonyms, in their 1910 treatment. This
effort formed a significant part of the publication and was one of the earliest uses of the process now
called lectotypification.
1
LeBlond: Lectotypifications in Pan/cum 2
NCU
Type determinations in the recent examination required searches of the older literature
and online databases, as well as examination of type specimens in other herbaria (usually online, but
sometimes on loan). The Missouri Botanical Garden's Tropicos database (Tropicos 2015) provided a
(BHL
basis for nomenclatorial authority and type specimen locations. Biodiversity Heritage Library
2015) provided access to several of the nomenclatural protologues published during the particularly
active period of Panicum field work and taxonomy in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Identification of types in that era was complicated not only by inconsistent historical
application but also by the nonstandardized documentation of collection data and specimen labeling.
&
Specimen and/or sheet numbering by collectors were particularly troubling. Hitchcock Chase
noted mat "It not infrequently occurs mat two or more species, collected at the same time and place,
or collected at different times and places but supposed by the collector to be the same species, are
distributed under the same number to different herbaria." Dates of collection were also
— —
Some
nonstandarized. collectors including Ashe, G.V. Nash, and J.K. Small used the inclusive
-
dates of the field expedition as the date on the label. For example, Ashe indicated "June 10 July 6,
1898" as the dates for an expedition that included the type collections of Panicum glabrissimum, P.
lucidum, mattamuskeetense, and roanokense, subsequently named by him. Sometimes Ashe
P. P. all
just recorded the month of collection, without the year, indicating the date to him was only important
pheno
logically.
All 9 names in this treatment were authored by Ashe. This is not surprising given that the
NCU
specimens from his herbarium are housed at and contributed to the discovery of some of the
needed lectotypifications. Also, Ashe authored more Panicum names than anyone, 48. Nash was the
second most prolific Panicum author, with 44 names.
During this era many new names were published, far more than are currently recognized.
This was due in part to the disparity between those who worked in the field, many of whom were
amateurs, and those who worked in the herbarium. It was common for field botanists to have limited
"On
access to herbaria and botanical libraries. the other hand," wrote Gleason (1952), "the
professional botanists often had little field experience with the plants which they studied. Careful
study of plants in this country by competent men both in the field and in the herbarium scarcely
is
more than 50 years old."
Since 2001, the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (McNeil et
2012) requires that a lectotypification be explicity designated when published. The designation
al.
must include a statement such as "lectotype designated here," so that the intent is clear. The
designation must also clearly apply to a particular specimen. The lectotype must be chosen from
material matching the taxonomic description in the protologue and known to have been original
material studied by the author. The priority specimen for selection a duplicate (isotype or
is
isolectotype) of the cited type specimen (holotype or lectotype), followed by a syntype, then by a
paratype. If none of these available, then selection made from original material known to have
is is
been studied by the author or from illustrations of such material. (Absent all of these, a neotype must
be designated.)
NCU
During the examination of the Panicum collection, many type specimens previously
unknown from the collection were identified. Due to the complexities of determinations and
verifications, a data format was created to maintain order and to assist subsequent workers who need
A
to follow these paths. subsequent paper will treat the newly found type specimens, and data
its
s un^J Ik
l<>i in.il
i 1
LeBlond: Lectotypifications in Pan/cum 3
The format begins with the currently accepted form of the name and its publication details,
plus any other spelling forms of the specific epithet and where they appeared. This followed by the
is
typification data in the original protologue, determination of type specimens by Hitchcock and Chase,
known new
the classification of ail type specimens (including designation of the lectotypifications),
typification commentary, Hitchcock and Chase taxonomic treatment, and current taxonomic treatment
&
in Freckmann Lelong (2003) and LeBlond (2015).
When
examining older Panicum types, important to go to the protologue. The author
it is
often cites multiple collections as representing his concept of the named entity, which today are
usually called paratypes or syntypes. Hitchcock and Chase frequently omitted references to any
additional collections in the protologue after the first. If more than one collection was cited, they
mechanically chose the first mentioned as the type (as long as a specimen was available), following
the newly-published code. Their concern was only with the establishment of a type specimen along
with verification of other specimens from the same collection. The concepts of "holotype" and
&
"lectotype" had not yet been developed, and the Hitchcock Chase designations were often
ambiguous relative to the current use of those terms. Hitchcock and Chase usually provided a brief
description of the mounted material on the specimen sheet they determined to be the type, which has
proven to be of great benefit.
This treatment employs the terms "topotype" and "topolectotype" for some specimens in the
type classification section. These are specimens collected from the same site as the holotype or
lectotype at an earlier or later date than the original type collection; the collections need not have been
made by the original type collector. Although not formally recognized by the International Code of
Nomenclature (McNeil et al. 2012), they are frequently used in taxonomic literature. They deserve
formal recognition as they almost always are more closely related genetically to holotypes and
lectotypes and to their isotypes and isolectotypes, than are syntypes and paratypes, which were
collected at other sites.
Unless otherwise stated, label data are from the holotype or lectotype. Abackslash, with a
/ ,
space on either side, is used to indicate data breaks in the label data where needed for clarity.
how
Collectors' names are not italicized unless that is they are represented on the label. Distinction is
made between printed and handwritten data only when necessary, but capitalized data were printed
all
PANICUM ARENICOLA Name
1. Ashe, J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 15: 56. 1898. spelled P. arenicolum
in protologue, and P. arenaecolum on some sheets.
Protologue typification. "Type material collected by the writer at Chapel Hill, N.C. June
1898, and later at several localities in the eastern portion of the same state" (Ashe 1898, 56).
p.
&
Type specimen determination by Hitchcock Chase (1910, 166). "The type could not
p.
be found in Ashe's herbarium. In Hitchcock's herbarium a specimen labeled 'Panicum
is
WW.
arenaecolum Ashe' collected in the vicinity of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, by Ashe, and sent
by him to Professor Scribner. The date of collection not given. This specimen, which probably a
is is
duplicate type, consists of two vernal culms, somewhat appressed-pubescent below; the stiffly
ascending blades are glabrous except the lowermost, which sparsely pubescent beneath."
is
NCU MO NY
Types. LECTOTYPE (designated here): 20397. ISOLECTOTYPES: 1837598;
381579, 381580. Label data: "PLANTS OF THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES IN THE VICINITY OF
WW
CHAPEL NORTH CAROLINA
HILL, arenaecolum Ashe June Ashe, Collector."
/ P. / /
LeBlond: Lectotypifications in Pan/cum 4
MO
Typification commentary. Subsequent workers identified the type specimens at and
NY
as isotypes, apparently based on the then-missing type in Ashe's herbarium. Gould and Clark
(1978) included the following in synonymy with Dichanthelium aciculare Desv. ex Poir.: "P.
NY"
arenicolum Ashe, 1898. Lectotype, US; isolectotypes, There are no known types for this name
at US, so the "Lectotype, US" must refer to the specimen from "Hitchcock's herbarium" described by
&
Hitchcock Chase. However, the location of that specimen unknown and another specimen has to
is
be chosen as the lectotype.
A NCU
specimen from the Ashe herbarium matching the protologue was found at (no. 20397)
&
during the current examination. could well be the missing type referenced by Hitchcock Chase,
It
but lacks a type designation by Ashe on the sheet. It is selected as the lectotype.
&
Taxonomic treatment by Hitchcock Chase (1910). Synonym of Panicum aciculare
Desv. ex Poir.
Current treatment. Panicum aciculare the basionym of Dichanthelium aciculare (Desv.
is
A
& &
ex Poir.) Gould C. Clark (Freckmann Lelong 2003; LeBlond 2015).
PANICUM COMMELiNIFOLIUM
2. Ashe, J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 15: 29. 1898, nom. illeg. hom.,
&
Name
not Rudge, 1805. spelled P. commelinaefolium in protologue and in Hitchcock
Chase 1910. This nom. illeg. was later replaced by P. curranii Ashe, J. Elisha Mtchell Sci.
Soc. 15: 113. 1899.
Protologue typification. "Based on material collected by Dr. J.K. Small near Stone Ml, Ga.,
Aug. 1-6, 1895, and distributed as P. commutatum" Ashe 1898, 29).
( p.
&
Type specimen determination by Hitchcock Chase (1910, 304). "The type, in the
p.
Biltmore Herbarium, consists of several late vernal culms beginning to branch, with short internodes
and short-exserted panicles. The culms Jieaths and bodi race- of the blades are puberuient, the
->ut
mm.
blades 1.7 to 2.5 cm. wide, the spikelets 2.8 long."
LECTOTYPE US
Types. (designated here): 80590 (fragm., photo of holotype).
NCU NY US
ISOLECTOTYPES: 17318; 413967; 2478905, 2478926. Lectotype label data (on packet
K
of fragment from holotype): "Panicum commelinaefolium Ashe Stone Mountain Ga. coll John
/ /
Aug
Small, 1-6, 1895 (from Biltmore Herb)."
/
&
Typification commentary. The location of the type seen by Hitchcock Chase currently
is
US
unknown. 80590, formerly treated as an isotype, contains a small fragment of material and a
photograph of the Biltmore type. It is selected as the lectotype.
&
Taxonomic treatment by Hitchcock Chase Synonym of Panicum commutatum
(1910).
Schult.
Current treatment. Panicum commutatum the basionym of Dichanthelium commutatum
is
&
(Schult.) Gould (Freckmann Lelong 2003; LeBlond 2015).
3. PANICUM FILICULME Ashe, J. Elisha Mtchell Sci. Soc. 15: 59-60. 1898, nom. illeg. hom., not
Hackel ex Schinz, 1895.
Protologue typification. "Dry soil, middle North Carolina to Georgia in the Piedmont
Ml, 1895"
plateau region. North Carolina: Ashe; Chapel Hill, 1898. Georgia: Small; Stone Aug.
...
(Ashe 1898, 60).
p.
LeBlond: Lectotypifications in Pan/cum 5
&
Type specimen determination by Hitchcock Chase (1910, 210). "The type could not
p.
be found in Ashe's herbarium. In the National Herbarium a specimen from Stone Mountain,
is
Georgia, collected by Ashe, which answers to the description. The culms are erect, slender, 12 to 20
cm
cm. high, with small panicles about 2 long. The culms are the early autumnal form with a few
erect fascicles of secondary branches. This specimen differs somewhat in aspect from the type of P.
meridionale, but they are forms of the same species."
NCU
LECTOTYPE "GEORGIA PLANTS
Types. (designated here): 18291. Label data:
/
COLLECTED ON AND ABOUT STONE MOUNTAIN, DEKALB COUNTY JOHN SMALL, AUGUST
K.
/
1895/ALTITUDE 1000-1500 FEET."
1-6,
NCU
No
Typification commentary. 18291 from Ashe's herbarium. taxonomic name was
is
entered on Small's label, but the specimen matches the protologue date, location, collector, and
description for P. filiculme.
&
Hitchcock Chase apparently never saw a type specimen for this name. The specimen
&
collected by Ashe (not Small) from Stone Mountain, and referenced by Hitchcock Chase, was
&
erroneously considered to be the lectotype by Lelong (1984) and Hansen Wunderlin (1988). But
should be noted that "W.W. Ashe, Collector" on the label printed, along with "PLANTS OF THE
it is
SOUTHERN UNITED who
STATES." It is possible that Ashe, annotated this specimen on the label as
'Panicum filiculme Ashe," carelessly used his own label for a Small specimen.
&
Taxonomic treatment by Hitchcock Chase Synonym of Panicum meridionale
(1910).
Ashe.
Current treatment. Panicum meridionale the basionym of Dichanthelium merdionale
is
&
(Ashe) Freckmann (LeBlond 2015), and synonym of D. acuminatum (Sw.) Gould C.A. Clark
& &
subsp. implicatum (Scribn.) Freckmann Lelong (Freckmann Lelong 2003).
4. PANICUM FILIRAMUM Ashe, J. Elisha Mtchell Sci. Soc. 16: 88. 1900. Panicum "filirameum" is
common
the spelling, but "filiramum," the spelling in the protologue, has been determined to
be valid (K. Gandhi, pers. comm., 12 Feb 2013).
Protologue typification. "Habitat: sandy woods, eastern North Carolina. Type material
New
collected in Hanover county, N.C., in June 1899" (Ashe 1900, 89).
p.
&
Type specimen determination by Hitchcock Chase (1910, 166-167). "The type, in
pp.
Ashe's herbarium, consists of two single vernal plants, with slender, villous culms, sheaths less
villous, blades nearly glabrous on one plant, sparsely long-pilose on the other, the panicles
overmature."
Types. LECTOTYPE (designated here): US 2808880 (mounted material). ISOLECTOTYPES:
NCU
18214; US 2808880 (unmounted material in packet). Label data: "PLANTS OF THE
SOUTHERN UNITED STATES. EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. Panicum filiramum W.W. Ashe Near
/
Wilmington N.C. June 1899 W.W. Ashe, Collector."
/ /
&
Typification commentary. The type seen by Hitchcock Chase "in Ashe's herbarium" has
A
US
never been relocated. Chase notation on 2808880 identifies as "a good match for type loaned
it
Dec 1905." US 2808880 contains an isolectotype in addition to the mounted lectotype. The
A
isolectotype in a packet "from unmounted dupl. type in Ashe herb." Chase notation on the lower
is
NCU
left of 18214 states "not type of Panicum filirameum / the type is a mounted duplicate of this in
NCU
Ashe herb loaned Nat Herb Dec 1905." In other words, 18241is a "duplicate" of the now-
NCU
missing type. In addition to material of P. filiramum, 18241 also contains material currently
treated as Dichanthelium dichotomum (L.) Gould var. dichotomum.
LeBlond: Lectotypifications in Pan/cum 6
&
Taxonomic treatment by Hitchcock Chase (1910). Synonym of Panicum aciculare
Desv.
Current treatment. Panicum aciculare the basionym of Dichantheiium aciculare (Desv.
is
& & My
C.A
ex Poir.) Gould Clark (Freckmann Lelong 2003; LeBlond 2015). research has
determined that plants referable to P. filiramum are the same as those identified as P.
chrysopsidifolium Nash. These plants are currently in preparation for recognition at the rank of
species. Panicum filiramum. published in 1900. has priority over P. chyrsopsidifolium, published in
1903.
PANICUM GEORGIANUM
5. Ashe, J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 15: 36. 1898. This name, thought to be
blocked by Panicum georgicum Spreng. 1825, was superfluously replaced by Panicum
cahoonianum Ashe, Elisha Mtchell Sci. Soc. 15: 113. 1899.
J.
Protologue typification. "Dry sandy soil, southern Georgia and Florida. Georgia: Small;
...
Darden Junction, Mcintosh Co., June 27, 1895. Florida: Chapman; Apalachicola" (Ashe 1898, 36).
p.
&
Type specimen determination by Hitchcock Chase (1910, 169). "The type specimen,
p.
which in the Biltmore Herbarium and which marked georgianum W.W. Ashe,' in Ashe's
is is 'P.
writing, the autumnal form."
is
NCU NY
Types. LECTOTYPE (designated here): US 742690. ISOLECTOTYPES: 17707;
DAREN
381606, 413982; US 2808870. Label data: "GEORGIA PLANTS. COLLECTED ABOUT
JUNCTION MCINTOSH CO BY JOHN K. SMALL, JUNE 25-27, 1895. Panicum Georgianum Ashe. At
sea level."
Typification commentary. Ashe misnamed the site as "Darden Junction" in the protologue.
&
The Biltmore Herbarium specimen has not been relocated. Hansen Wunderlin (1988) interpreted
&
the Hitchcock Chase designation as lectotypification, stating under synonymy of Dichantheiium
&
ovale: ^Panicum georgianum Ashe (lectotype, US). Lectotypified by Hitchcock Chase (Contr.
...
&
U.S. Natl. Herb. 15: 169. 1910)." There are two sheets from the type collection at US, but Hansen
US
Wunderlin did not indicate which one they believed to be the lectotype. Neither sheet has a "P.
georgianum" notation in Ashe's handwriting, so neither can be the missing Biltmore type.
US
742690 matches the protologue and identified as the "Type" but not in Ashe's or
is
Chase's handwriting (Chase was the most frequent typification annotator of Ashe Panicum specimens
in that era). The sheet is identified as having been purchased from Scribner's herbarium by
&
US
Hitchcock in 1905. This sheet was examined by Hitchcock Chase (see following discussion of
2808870) and the specimen placed in synonymy with Panicum consanguineum Kunth (which
is
where they placed the name P. georgianum). It is selected here as the lectotype.
US
2808870 contains two plants representing two collections. The plant on the left is the
autumnal form and is designated on the sheet as "type of P. Georgianum." The plant on the right is
the vernal form. There are sqjarate labels for each plant, but as Chase notes, "they are doubtless
May
transposed; the 20 label [beneath autumnal plant] should go with the vernal culm, and June 25-
27 with branching plant which certainly of same collection as the Darien Junction June 25-27
is
A
specimen in Hitchcock herbarium [US 742690, the lectotype here designated]." notation in E.D.
Merrill's handwriting identifies the aurumml flint is the wo-type of Panicum georgianum." The
May
20 vernal plant, collected from Ocmulgee Swamp, has no standing as a type.
&
Taxonomic treatment by Hitchcock Chase Synonym of Panicum
(1910).
consanguineum Kunth.
LeBlond: Lectotypifications in Pan/cum J
Current treatment. Panicum consanguineum the basionym of Dichanthelium
is
& &
consanguineum (Kunth) Gould C.A. Clark (Freckmann Lelong 2003; LeBlond 2015).
PANICUM MICROPHYLLUM
6. Ashe, J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 15: 61. 1898.
Protologue typification. "Collected by the writer June, 1898, at Chapel Hill, N.C, in moist
sunny woods" (Ashe 1898, 61).
p.
&
Type specimen determination by Hitchcock Chase (1910, 210-211). "The type could
p.
not be found in Ashe's herbarium, nor any specimens so named by him. The description seems to
apply to the autumnal form of P. meridionale, though the culms and sheaths described as 'glabrous or
pubescent,' seem to indicate that some material of P. tenue or other species of the Ensifolia was mixed
with
it."
NY
Types. LECTOTYPE (designated here): 381644. ISOLECTOTYPE: US 2383610 (fragm.
NY
ex 381644). Label data: "PLANTS OF THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES. IN THE VICINITY OF
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA. Panicum microphyllum Ashe =P. filiculme Ashe June W.W.
/ /
Ashe, Collector." "Panicum microphyllum" and "June" are in .Ashe's handwriting, but "=Panicum
filiculme Ashe" is in someone else's hand.
NY
Typification commentary. 381644 contains a note, "Co-type," in Chase's handwriting,
with an arrow pointing to the name Panicum microphyllum Ashe on the label. Doubtless this
&
specimen was not seen by Hitchcock Chase until after the 1910 publication, where they stated they
had not seen "any specimens so named by him." The Gould annotation label from 1978 denotes this
&
specimen as an isolectotype, apparently interpreting Hitchcock Chase as designating the missing
now
Ashe herbarium specimen as the lectotype. But their usual method of designating what
is
regarded as a lectotype was with the phrase "chosen [or taken] as the type," and circumstances
indicate they did not designate specimens they hadn't seen.
US
2383610 contains a small fragment of the "Co-type," very likely the specimen at NY,
which the only known specimen matching the protologue.
is
NCU
At a specimen (17715) with a printed label identifying as "Panicum microphyllum
is it I
May
Moist, grassy lands, Chapel Hill, Orange County, N.C. Dale 26, 1898 Coll. W.W. Ashe."
/ /
There is just enough variance in the date ("May" instead of "June") and habitat ('Moist, grassy lands"
instead of "sunny woods") to disqualify as a type. Nonetheless, may well have been regarded by
it it
Ashe as a syntype or paratype equivalent, with omission of differing date and habitat from the
its
common
protologue a oversight of the time.
&
Taxonomic treatment by Hitchcock Chase Synonym of Panicum meridionale
(1910).
Ashe.
Current treatment. Panicum meridionale the basionym of Dichanthelium meridionale
is
&
(Ashe) Freckmann (LeBlond 2015), and a synonym of D. acuminatum (Sw.) Gould C.A. Clark
& &
subsp. implicatum (Scribn. ex Nash) Freckmann Lelong (Freckmann Lelong 2003).
PANICUM NEMOPANTHUM
7. Ashe, J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 15: 42. 1898.
Protologue typification. "Type material collected by the writer April, 1895, in the
Penitentiary woods, Raleigh, N.C." (Ashe 1898, 42).
p.
&
Type specimen determination by Hitchcock Chase (1910, 177). "The type could not
p.
be found in Ashe's herbarium, but a specimen from the type material labeled in Ashe's handwriting is
LeBlond: Lectotypifications in Panicum 8
in the National Herbarium. This is a single vernal culm with an immature, partly included panicle;
the spikelets are nearly or quite glabrous."
NCU
LECTOTYPE US TOPOLECTOTYPE:
Types. (designated here): 2383604. 17850.
Label "PLANTS OF THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES Panicum nemopanthum Ashe Raleigh
data:
/ /
N.C April 1895 W.W. Ashe, Collector."
/ /
,
US
Typification commentary. Chase designated the specimen as a "Co-type," and was
it
subsequently treated as an isotype of the missing type in Ashe's herbarium. Since the Ashe type has
US
not been relocated the "Co-type" selected as the lectotype. The topolectotype was collected by
is
May
Ashe from woods on
Penitentiary 1899.
1,
&
Taxonomic treatment by Hitchcock Chase (1910). Synonym of Panicum bicknellii
Nash.
Current treatment. Panicum bicknellii was treated as a synonym of Dichanthelium boreale
& &
(Nash) Freckmann by Gould Clark (1978). It is regarded as a "putative hybrid" by Freckmann
My
who
Lelong (2003). did not treat it in synonymy. research has determined that P. bicknellii should
new
be recognized at the rank of species (as Dichanthelium bicknellii), and a treatment is in
preparation.
PANICUM ONSLOWENSE
8. Ashe, J. Elisha Mtchell Sci. Soc. 16: 88. 1900.
Protologue typification. "In the eastern part of Onslow county, N.C, where the type
material was collected near Ward's Mill" (Ashe 1900, 88).
p.
&
Type specimen determination by Hitchcock Chase (1910, 276). "The type, in Ashe's
p.
herbarium, the vernal form with immature panicles, the culms glabrous or minutely puberulent, the
is
much mm.
lower blades as as cm. wide, and immature spikelets 2.4 long. Other specimens in
1
Ashe's herbarium and some distributed as P. onslowense and bearing the same data, as the type are P.
lancearium."
NCU
Types. LECTOTYPE (designated here): US 2808968. SYNTYPE: 18104. Label data:
"PLANTS OF THE SOUTHERN UNITED STATES. EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA. May, 19-20, 1899.
11. m. East of Jacksonville, Onslow Co. / W.W. Ashe, Collector."
Typification commentary. Confusion exists between the typification described by
Hitchcock and Chase and the notations on the two extant type specimens. Hansen and Wunderlin
&
NCU.
(1988) interpreted the Hitchcock Chase type designation as lectotypification of a specimen at
NCU,
They also indicated there was at least one other type specimen ("isotype") present at but no
NCU
other type specimen known. They noted that Hitchcock and Chase "clearly stated that the
is
now NCU."
type is in Ashe's herbarium, at
NCU
The Chase notation on syntype 18104 reads "type of onslowense a mounted
P.
specimen in Ashe herb, loaned Nat Herb Dec 1905." I interpret this to mean that the type designated
& NCU
by Hitchcock Chase was not 18 104 but instead another mounted specimen loaned by Ashe to
NCU
the National Herbarium in 1905. If Chase had interpreted 18104 as the type, she would not
have used the phrase "a mounted specimen" etc. US 2808968, the only other known type sheet, has a
U.S. Department of Agriculture label prepared by E.D. Merrill, not by Ashe, and noted by Merrill as
"Portion of type sent by Ashe June 1900 [1899 crossed out]." This suggests that the mounted
US
material on 2808968 was either from unmounted material sent by Ashe or from another mounted
specimen sent in 1900, not 1905.
LeBlond: Lectotypifications in Pan/cum 9
Further complicating matters is that two taxa are present in the type material: P. webberianum
Nash and P. lancearium Trinius. Hitchcock and Chase recognized this in their discussion of
NCU
US
typification. 18104 is conspecific with P. lancearium, while 2808968 is conspecific with P.
webberianum. The protologue matches webberianum. which where Hitchcock and Chase placed
P. is
onslowense.
P.
Hitchcock and Chase described the type "in Ashe's herbarium" as "the vernal form with
NCU
immature panicles." This condition matches that of 18104, but the remainder of their
US
description belongs to P. webberianum, not P. lancearium. The vernal panicles on 2808968 are
NCU
US
mature. This added evidence that neither 2808968 nor 18104 represents the "mounted
is
NCU
specimen in Ashe herb, loaned Nat Herb Dec 1905." The specimen at does not match the
NCU
US
protologue while the specimen at does, and the latter is selected as the lectotype. Since
18104 conspecific with lancearium, a syntype.
is P. it is
&
Taxonomic treatment by Hitchcock Chase Synonym of Panicum webberianum
(1910).
Nash.
Current treatment. Panicum webberianum the basionym of Dichanthelium webberianum
is
&
(Nash) LeBlond (LeBlond 2015) and a synonym of D. portoricense (Desv. ex Poir.) B.F. Hansen
& & &
Wunderlin subsp. patulum (Scribn. Merr.) Freckmann Lelong (Freckman Lelong 2003).
PANICUM SUBVILLOSUM
9. Ashe, J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 16: 86-87. 1900.
Protologue typification. "Collected by the writer at Carlton, Minnesota, in August, in the
my
simple state. Type material preserv ed in herbarium" (Ashe 1900, 87).
p.
&
Type specimen determination by Hitchcock Chase (1910, 227). "The type specimen,
p.
in Ashe's herbarium, consists of three tufts of several culms each, 15 to 30 cm. high, with leaves
clustered at the base and long-exserted mature panicles."
&
Types. LECTOTYPE (designated here): US 2382624 (fragm. photo). ISOLECTOTYPES:
NCU
US "PLANTS OF THE
18025; 971092. Label data (from photo of missing holotype):
SOUTHERN UNITED STATES ["SOUTHERN" ["EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA"
crossed out]. crossed
out] / Panicum subvillosum W.W. Ashe / Carlton Minn. / Aug 1899 / W.W. Ashe, Collector."
Typification commentary. The type from Ashe's herbarium has not been located. The
&
NCU,
specimen at which has been treated as the holotype (e.g., Hansen Wunderlin 1988), has the
following Chase note: "dupl. type / P. subvillosum Ashe / type is a mounted specimen in Ashe herb,
US
loaned Nat Herb Dec 1905." There a photograph of the missing Ashe herbarium type on
is
2382624 along with a small tuft of mounted material presumably from the Ashe herbarium type and
US
material in a packet noted as "from holotype." For these reasons 2382624 has been selected as
NCU
US
the lectotype. Neither 18025 nor 971092 matches the image of the missing Ashe herbarium
US
type. 971092 was also identified as a duplicate type by Chase, with the note "from unmounted
No
material in Ashe herb." other type specimens are known.
&
Taxonomic treatment by Hitchcock Chase (1910). Panicum subvillosum.
Current treatment. Panicum subvillosum a synonym of Dichanthelium acuminatum
is
& & &
C.A
(Sw.) Gould Clark subsp. fasciculatum (Torr.) Freckmann Lelong (Freckmann Lelong
2003). Specimens referred to Panicum subvillosum are not treated by LeBlond as they are outside the
range of the Weakley Flora (LeBlond 2015).
LeBlond: Lectotypifications in Panicum 10
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am indebted to John Boggan and Robert Soreng of the Department of Botany at the
National Herbarium for a careful reading of the manuscript and assistance with typification
wrangling. Carol Ann McCormick, assistant curator of the University of North Carolina Herbarium
NCU
at Chapel Hill (NCU), provided oversight and management of the collection and loans from
other herbaria.
LITERATURE CITED
Ashe, W.W. 1898. The dichotomous group of Panicum in the eastern United States. Elisha
J.
Mitchell Sci. Soc. 15:22-62.
Ashe, W.W. 1900. Some dichotomous species of Panicum. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc. 16:84-91.
J.
A
BHL. 2015. Biodiversity Heritage Library. consortium of natural history and botanical libraries.
<http ://www. biodiv ersitylibrary. org/>
Freckmann, R.W. and M.G. Lelong. 2003. Dichanthelium. Pp. 406-45 Flora of North America
in
1,
New
North of Mexico, Vol. 25. Oxford Univ. Press, York and Oxford.
H.A New
Gleason, 1952. The Britton and Brown Illustrated Flora of the Northeastern United States
New New
and Adjacent Canada. York Botanical Garden and Hafner Press, York.
FW. C.A
Gould, and Clark. 1978. Dichanthelium (Poacae) in the United States and Canada. Ann.
Missouri Bot. Gard. 65: 1088-1132.
Hansen, B.F and R.R Wunderlin. 1988. Synopsis of Dichanthelium (Poaceae) in Florida. Ann.
Missouri Bot. Gard. 75: 1637-1657.
A
Hitchcock, AS. and Chase. 1910. The North American species of Panicum. Contr. U.S. Natl.
Herb. 15: 1-396.
AS.
LeBlond, R.J. 2015. Dichanthelium. In: Weakley, Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic
States. Univ. of North Carolina Herbarium (NCU), Chapel Hill. <http://www.herbarium.
unc.edu/flora.htm>
New
Lelong, M.G. 1984. combinations for Panicum subgenus Panicum and subgenus
Dichanthelium (Poaceae) of the southeastern Unites States. Britonia 36: 262-273.
W.R
McNeil, K., F.R. Barrie, Buck, V. Demoulin, W. Greuter, D.L. Hawksworth, PS. Herendeen, S.
GF
Knapp, K. Marhold, Prado, W.F Prud'homme van Reine, Smith, J.H. Wiersema, and
J.
N.J. Turland. 2012. International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants
Regnum
(Melbourne Code). Vegetabile 154: 1-240. Koeltz Scientific Books, Konigstein,
Germany.
<http://www.iapt-taxon.org/nomen/main.php?page=title>
Nomenclatural Commission. 1907. American Code of Botanical Nomenclature. Bull. Torrey Bot.
Club 167-178.
34:
Tropicos. 2015. Tropicos.org: Nomenclatural, bibliographic, and specimen data accumulated in
MBG's
electronic databases. Missouri Botanical Garden, <http://www.tropicos.org>
Vasey, G. 1889. The genus Panicum in the United States. U.S.D.A. Div. Bot. Bull. 8: 20-39.